Mechanical game



May 31, 1932.

A. J. GUMINA ET AL MEoHANCAL GAME Filed March 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l /23 ,ff ff @AZ do Gamma 353552119@ Z1 OmsrI ,15;` W di@ ,J q-

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May31, 1932.

A. J'. GUMINA ET AL MECHAN ICAL GAME Filed March 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mil I nventor mina,

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Patented Mayrl, 1932 unirse stares PATENT' ori-acs# ANGELO VJ'. GUMINA AND GEORGE TQOVERING, JR., OF NEW' ORLEAN S, LOUISANA MECHANICAL GAME Appncau'oii sied March e5, 1931. serial No. 525,283.

The present invention relates tegame apparatus and has for an object to provide an improved constructionr of apparatus which requires skill in its manipulation Vand, which l 5 excites competition, and an apparatus which 1s of the Vcoin controlled type. f

Another object .ofthe present `invention is to provide a racing game wherein two objects, such as representations of horses, are disposed l'side `by side and provided with independent manually operable means Ifor impelling the objects toward a common 'goal and rwhereinA a certain amount of skill is required in the manipulation of the operating meansindependentlyfor each object,and wherein both of the operating means are check or coin controlledfrom a single check apparatus.

A further object of thef present invention isto provide a Construction of horse racing V game embodying the abovecharacteristics and whichhas means forfautomatically returning the objects to their normal starting position, which has means for automatically locking the operating mechanism against operation after the racev has been completed,

and `provided with automatic means controlled by the movements of the objects for indicating the ,winning object, therefore releasing the indicating means after the trav- 30 elers have been returned to the starting point.

ticularly pointed out in the-claims appended Figure 1`is a top planview, with the cover removed, ofl agame apparatus constructedy according to theV present invention.

Figure 2V a longitudinal section taken vertically through the samesubstantially on .theline 2-'2 of Figure 1.v

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical ysection taken through the check controlled portion of the apparatus, and

Figure l is a 'diagrammatic View of the appara-tus and electric circuits controlled there- Y- l i eferring to the drawings, 10 designates a cabinet or frame for supporting thegame apparatus and which is preferably of rectangular oblong shapev and adapted to be supl ported horizontally upon legs 11 or the like.

The casing 10 is provided in its kouter end with a pair of longitudinally spaced apa-rt transverse-partitions 12 and13 between which .the operating and check controlled means is housed.` The casing 10 may be provided with a cover plate 14 seatedupon the upper edgev 'of the casing l0 and its partitions and which 4may be cut out as shown at 15 for observing the operation of the movable objects.

The casing 10 is provided 'at its inner end withr a pair of spaced apart transverse parti-V tions 16 and 17 between which are housed the motors or other means used yfor returning the objects to their normal starting position.

Longitudinally disposed in each side portion. of thecasing 10 is a threaded shaft 18, the twok shafts 18 being arranged in vparallel relationv and vhaving bearings at opposite ends in the adjacent partitions 13 and 17, as shown in Figure 2. Disposed in'threaded engagement on each shaft is a traveler 19 which may Y be in the form of a sleeve, and each traveler 19 isprovided with apertured wing kor side portions 20 forming eyesfor slidablyyreceivringr'therethrough guide rodsv 21 which are e secured at opposite ends in the partitions 13 and 417 at opposite sides of the adjacent fore held from turningk asthey slide on the r`rods. 21 and `are fed lengthwise of thek Cas- "ing 10 by the turning of the shafts 18 first in one direction, and then vinthe other.-

Theouter end of each shaft 18 projects e threaded shaft 18. The travelers 19 are there- Y forwardly through the partition 18 and has. f

keyed for sliding movement thereon a clutch element 22 having projections or .teeth extending outwardly therefrom. Each clutch element 22 has an annularly grooved collar 23 freely'rotatable within the opposite end portions of a yoke bar 24 which extends crosswisc within the compartment in the outer end of the casing and which is adapted for movement to shift the clutch elements 22 simultaneously and equally lengthwise of their respective shafts 18. The yoke bar 24 carries a sleeve 25 intermediate its ends, and the sleeve is adjustably lixed by a set screw 26 or the like upon a check controlled shaft 27, as shown in Figure 3.

The shaft 27 is shdably supported through the partitions 12 and 13. The outer end of the shaft 27 extends through the adjacent end of the casing 10 and is provided with ak hand-hold 28 by means of whichthe shaft 27 may be pulled outwardly at certain times.

A coin chute 29 is mounted in the outer upper portion of the casing and projects downwardly for sliding engagement at itsV lower p end against an enlarged and slotted plate portion 30 which is carried by the sh aft r27 and which is adapted to be shifted against the lower end of the coin chute 29. A spring,r

31 bea-rs at its outer end against the side of y the coin chute 29 and at its inner end bears agamst an adjustable collar or nut 32 which 1s secured by a set screw or the like to a shaft y27 for placing the spring 31 under the de' sire'd tension7 the spring acting to normally held the shaft 27 in retracted position7 as shown'in Figure 3.

The slot in the plate 30 registers with the lower end of the coin chute 29, and the coin chute is provided with an extension r33 in the form of a cylinder which opens through the topr14 of the casing and in which is slidably disposed a plunger 34 adapted to engage vthe upper edge of a coin 35 to force the coin -slot and admit of the free passageof coins f"- downwardly mto posltion beneath the plunger, as shown 1n Figure 3. In line w1th the cylinder 33, and below the plate 30, .is disposed a detent arranged in line with the slot in the plate 30 so as to receive the lower edge of thecoin 33 thereagainst. The detent 40 is provided with an upturned pointed end kadapted to enter a. correspondingly shaped recess or notch in the lower side of the plate 30 for holding the plate against shifting lengthwise of the'device. The detent 40 is carried on the upper end of a rod 41 which extends downwardly into a guide cylinder 42 carrying a spring 43 surrounding the lower portion of the rod 41 and resting in the bottom of the cylinder 42. A disc 44 is carried `by the rod 41 and bears against the upper Ycore rod 47 when the shaft 27 is pulled forwardly to its fullest extent. The core rod 47 y is normally urged against the shaft 27 by a spring'49 or thellike.

Mounted through the outer end of the casing 10, and in axial alignment with each threaded shaft 18, is an operating shaft 50. Each shaft 50 has a bushing or bearing sleeve 51 surrounding its outer end and secured in the forward partition 12. The hand .wheel 52 is carried on the outer end of eachshaft 50 and is provided with a handle 53 by means of which the wheel 52 may be easily turned for rotating the Shaft 50. 1 A governor collar 54 is mounted upon each shaft 50 at the inner end of the bushing 51, and each shaft 50 is provided on its inner end with a keyed slid able clutch element 55 connected by governor balls 56 to thergovernor sleeve 54 so that the slidable rclutch section 55 is under control of the governor on each shaft 50.

The opposite extremities of the yoke bar 24 are slidably supported in the oppositesides of the casing or frame 10 by means of pins 57 which engage in longitudinal slots 58 carried in the side portions of the casing for admittingof the bodily movement of the yoke bar when the shaft 27 is shifted.

The inner or rear ends of the threaded shafts 18 are each provided with a gear wheel 59 which meshes with a pinion 60 carried upon the Shaft of an electric mot-or 61, an independent motor 61 being provided for each shaft 18. The motors 61 are adapted for turning the shafts 18 in a'direction to move the travelers 19 outwardly into their normal starting position. Each traveler 19 may be provided with an object 627 such as the figure of a horse or the like. so as to simulate a horse race in the operation of the game.

With particular reference to Figure 4, each traveler 19 is provided with a pair of ydepending striker arms 63 and 64 which are arranged toward the opposite ends of the ytraveler and which are adapted to alternately strike against the overturned opposite ends of a slide bar 65. Each slide bar 65 has at its inner end a plurality of contacts 66 which are adapted to eo-operate with a plurality of fixed contacts 67 for simultaneously clos- Vio lio

Vas

ing circuits through the contacts 66 and67. Y.

the yoke bar 24 vtherewith and the yoke barr when the slide bar 65 v'is shifted; inwardly. At the outer portionfof each slide bar 65 there isdisposedfaswitch 68 adaptedfor engagement at its Lipper end with the striker arm 6/1 -for swinging the switch arni 68 first -into oneposition as shown in Figure 4, and subsequently throwing the switch arm into a closed position to engage thei'iXed contact 69. Thus,'when the traveler-19 moves toward the outer end of the casingvit breaks the circuit between the switch arm 68 and the con:

"tact69 and subsequentlyk engages the adjacent end' of ther'slide bar 65 so as to break the circuits through the contacts 66 and 67. Each traveler 19 is provided with a slide bar 65 and its adjacent contacts and 'switchelements so that theJ circuits are independently` controlled by the independent travelers.

. While any suitable and desired wiring may be resorted to in connectingy together the various partsof this game apparatus to carry out the features ofthe invention, Figure 4c shows one possible arrangement. A battery Y70, or other suitable source of electric energy, Ais connected .by branch wires 71 with the spaced apart or opposed slidebars 65. They opposite side of the battery or source of electric energy isconnected by groundwires 72 to one side of each of theelectric motors 61. The opposite side of each motor y61'is -connected by a wire 7 3 to the adjacent switch arm 68 andthe respective fixed Contact 69 of the' switch arm is connected by a wire 74 with one of the'fixed contacts 66 Vof the adjacent slide 65. Each 4wire 74: is provided with a branch wire 75 whichleads to onefof the contacts '66 ofthe opposite slide 65. The locking4 magnet 46 is lconnected by a branch jwire 75 to one of the ground wires 72 and is also connected by a branch'wire 77 withone contact of each group of contacts 66 ofthe opfposed .slider bars 65.

A. signal, inthe vforni of an'electric light 78, is provided yfor each traveler 19 and is connected by a wiie`79to one of the adjacent contacts 66, and by a wire 80 to the adjacent ground wire 72. l

In operation, a coin is deposited in the coin slot 39 and the coin rolls downwardly into contact with the detent 40. The plungerk y 87isnow depressed so as to force the lower end 34 thereof` into engagement with the coin and the latter transmits pressure of the plunger to the detent 40 for depressing the same out of engagement with its notchin'thefplate 30 sothat one. of the two players maydraw upon the handle 28 and-pull the clieckcontrolV shaft 27 outwardly. The coin 35 now drops into the bottoni of the box,.the spring Slis placed under tension, and the spring actuated core rod 47 of the locking magnet drops into the notch 48 and holds tlieshaft 27 in its forward position.

Forward pulling of the shaft 27 carries the governors 56.y

The game is adaptedto be played by two Y.

Vpeople and each person grasps a respective handle 53 so as to turn the hand wheels 52 and` their respective shafts 50. .As the shafts 50 turn the interlocking clutch elements 22 and 55 cause the rotation of the threaded vshafts 18 ,in a direction to advance the followers A19-iiiwardly toward the motors 61.

AShould the lshafts 5() be manually turned at a speed ysufficient to bring the adjacent govervnor into action to withdraw its clutch element 55,the threaded shaft 18 will be disconnected fromthe hand shaft and will stop so that it requires a certain amount of skill to rvmanipulate the governor controlled operating means to insure a steady forward advancement of the follower'with the utmost possible speed 'of travel and yet not with such speed as todisconnect tlie'clutch elements.

`Uien the travelers 19 start to move, the arms 6% thereof first engage the switchV arms 68 and swing the saine into closed position so as to vclose the circuit through the wires 7 3 and 7a at eachside of the apparatus. At the completion of therace where one horse or object 62 first reaches the goal, the travel er 19 of the winning object strikes, through its AContact arm 63, the inner end of the slide bar 65 so as to shift the contacts 67 into 'enga-genient ywith the fixed contacts66 and closing 'the following circuits:

Y Theslide bar 65, such as for example the lower slide bar shown in Figure e, is connected to the source of current 70 by the wire (i, the wire 71 leading from one pole or side of the circuit. From the bar 65, the current passes through the contacts 66 and 67, wire 79,

lamp 78 and wire 80 to the ground wire 72 which leads back to the opposite pole or side ofthe circuit. Thus, the light 8 for the fore. niost or winning object is illuminated. 'The lamp 78, shown in Figure 2, will bejlocatedi above the adjacenttlireaded shaft 18k and at 'the' inner v,end of the game apparatus. l'.

rllhe partition 17 may be utilized for support` ing this lamp t the Sametime the circuitis closed from the slide bar 65, contacts 66 and 67, wire fer-i t( romagnetfft which is connected-through i. f j

wire 7 5 to the ground or opposite side of the circuit. kThe magnet or solenoid is tliuseiieigized and the core rod 4'! thereof is withdrawn'froni. the slot l18 so as to free the check l controlled shaft 27.y The sliaft27 is urged by itsispringl. inwardly and carries'the yolrebar backwardly toward the partition 18 to move the clutch elements 22 out of the" rangeof vcontact with theopposite clutch elevments 55 so 'that the manually operated shafts 50 yare' automatically disconnected from the threaded shafts 18.

-As soon as the shaft 27 springs backwardly the detent 40, is raised by its spring 43 into interlocking engagement with the plate 30 so that the latter cannot be drawn outwardly by the handle 28 until a second lcoin or check is deposited in the chute.

As the slide bar switch is closed, the circuit is closed from battery 70, through wire 71,

lower slide bar 65, the fourth pair of contacts 66 and 67. wire 74 to contact 69 and switch arm 68, thence backwardly through wire 73 to the lower motor 61, and from the motor 61 to the ground wire 72 at the opposite side of the battery 70. Thus, the lower motor 61 will be driven, and it is so arranged as to turn the threaded shaft- 18 backwardly. The third pair of contacts 66 and 67 associated with the slide bar 65 closes the following circuit through the opposite motor 61 so as to simultaneously drive both motors and thus return both of the travelers 19 toward their initial starting position: i From batterythrough wire 71 toslide bar 65, through third pair of contacts 66 and 67 to wire 75 which leads across to the opposito mechanism, shown at the top of Figure 4, the wire 7 5 extending upwardly and being connected to the opposite wire 74 which leads to the opposite contact 69 and switch arm 68, thence through wire 73 to the upper motor 61, and from the upper motor through ground wire 7'2 to the `opposite side of the battery. It will be noted that the wires 74 of the opposite slide bar switches are connected to the fourth stationary contacts 66 thereof, and that the cross wires 75 are connected to the third stationary contacts 66 of their opposed slide barswitches. f

The travelers 19 are thus carried outwardly along their threaded shafts 18 by the continuous running of the motors until the travelers reach their initial starting position. JJ The first traveler which reaches its starting position, for instance the upper traveler in accordance with the diagram in Figure 4, first engages the switch arm 68 and throws it into open position as clearly shown in Figure 4. The circuit is thus broken through the wires 73 and 74 and consequently no current can llow through the upper motor 61. However, the current through the lower motor 61 is undisturbed and consequently the lower motor continues driving until the lower follower 19 swings the lower switch arm 68 into open position. The last follower to reach the Starting point notr only swings the switch arm 68 into open position, but also shifts they 50 slide bar 65 outwardly so as to open the contacts 66 and 67 and thus simultaneously break circuit through the magnet 46, the signal light 78, andthe last running motor 61.

As soon as the slide bar 65, which was 5 shifted backwardly by the winning traveler tery yis shown at 70, any suitable source of electric energy may be used, such as a cord andr plug connection for engagement with a ywall outlet or the like from which is supplied housel current.

Itis obviousthat various changes and modications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restrictedonly by the scope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

1. A game apparatus comprisinga casing, al pair of objects mounted in the casing adapted for movement therein simulating a race, manual means for independently moving the objects, automatic releasable means disposed between the manually operable means for releasing the objects from' the. latter when the manually operable means is actuated beyond a ydefinite rate of speed, check controlled means for holding said objects out of eugagement with the operating means, andV means controlled by the movements of said objects for returning the latter to a starting position.

f 2. A game apparatus comprising a pair of threaded shafts, a follower on each shaft, a motor connected to each shaft for turning the shaft backwardly and moving the followers to initial startingy position, a manually rotatable shaft for each threaded shaft,rela tively shiftable clutch elements carried upon the threaded and manually operable shafts, check controlled means for normally maintaining one ofsaid clutch elements in retracted position, and governor means connected to the other clutch element adapted to withdraw the same from the shaft elements when a predetermined speed of rotation is reached.

3, A game apparatus comprising a casing, a pair of threaded shafts disposed longitudinally in parallel relation in the casing, a follower having an object ymounted upon each shaft, a manually operable shaft disposed in line with the forward ends of the threaded shafts, complemental clutch elements carried upon the threaded vand manually operable shafts, check controlled means for advancing one of the clutch elements'into interlocking position, governor controlled means connected to the opposite clutch elements for withdrawing the same vfrom the shaft elements upon a predetermined speed of operation of theshafts, a separate motor for each threaded shaft to turn the same backwardly', circuit means operable by the travelers when moved to their innermost positions for reversing the direction of movement of the travelers, and means operable upon the return of the travelers to normal position for stopping said motors. Y s

- 4. A game apparatus comprising a casing, a pair of parallel threaded shafts arranged -lengthwise in the casing, a pairof independent manual shafts mounted in the -outer end of the casing in line with the threaded shafts, check controlled means for interconnecting the manual shafts with the threaded shafts, a motor for each threaded shaft, and electric means connected to the motors and to said travelers for actuating both motors when one y of said travelers reaches its goal, and cooperating electric means adapted for engagement bythe travelers as to reach their normal starting position for independently stopping the motors as the travelers move into starting position.

5. A game apparatus comprising lan elongated casing, a pair of parallel threaded shafts arranged lengthwise in the casing, manual means arranged at the outer end of the casing in line with the shafts, check controlled means for connecting the operating means to ,the threaded shafts, variable yconnections arranged between thek operating means and the threaded shafts for controlling the interconnection between the shafts .l

travelers for independently cuttingout thek respective motors.

6. In game apparatus, a pair of'travelers,

independent operating means for advancing the travelers toward a goal, electric means operable by a traveler when one of the travelf ers reaches the goal for reversing the movement of the travelers and returning the same to initial starting position, signal means operable by a traveler when it Yreaches the goal to actuate the respective signal and show`r which traveler has won the race, and checky controlled interlocking means between the travelersand` the operating means therefor, s and manually set electrically released locking means associated with said check controlled device for holding the operating means normally in operative relation to the travelers.'

' GEORGE T. OVERING, JR.

ANGELO J. GUMINA. 

